Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Hi, my name is Dawn, and I'm an anal-organizational freak. (Everyone: Hi Dawn.)

It's true, I admit it. I am anal when it comes to organizing my life and plans. My friends call me rainman. But I didn't really see it for myself until earlier this week. A writer friend asked me how I was doing my packets for school. I proceeded to tell her exactly how I was handling this semester, and when I finished I realized how completely psycho it sounded!

As you know, I have to send in a packet each month to my faculty advisor containing 20 pages of new writing, 20 pages of revision, 2 critical essays, and an annotated bibliography of at least 10 books. Well, I wanted to try as many new things as possible this semester, so my plan is to do something different with each packet. Packet 1 was all about picture books. I read 23 (?) of them, my essays were on topics surrounding them, and I wrote 7 of them (some better than others!).

Packet 2 was all about Middle Grade novels. I read 20 of them, my essays involved them, I wrote 20 pages of a new MG novel, and revised my completed MG novel.

For my third packet, I'll be working on a new YA and revising PBs.

The 4th packet will be sci-fi/horror/fantasy.

And the 5th will be creative non-fiction/historical fiction.

So by the end of the semester, I'll have one completed and revised MG, 3 completed and revised PBs, and the beginnings of a YA, a MG, a Sci-fi or horror YA/MG novel, and a creative non-fiction or historical fiction YA/MG novel. Then next semester I can focus in a little more on the things I enjoyed most. I'd love to have all of those beginnings completed by graduation, at least in first drafts.

That's my plan. I know-rainman.

What are you rainman-ish about? Do you ever get anal about your writing life? Or are you free and spontaneous?

Holy Crow!!!!! That's a lot of writing!!!! I'm amazed. Can I ask... do you have kids, a husband... a dog??? I think if I signed up for this fabulous course you are taking (or graduate program) I'd have to quit everyone and everything in my life. BUT... it is amazing! You will have so much done and ready to go and what you will learn will be priceless!

Sheri-yup, I have 3 kids, a husband, and 2 dogs. And the hubby *may* be in the process of being laid off. UGH! I am hoping that I won't have to go back to work, like, at a job! I've been a stay-at-home mom for 6 years now, and I've only recently learned to love it. Especially now that I have something to focus on (writing). Luckily, though, the kids are in school all day so I have time to work before the chaos at 3:00.